Under His Wings

Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down… “Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” Ruth 3:7b and 9b

Has God called you do something that makes you feel uncomfortable? Do you find it difficult to obey?

In Ruth chapter 3, Naomi tells Ruth to do something that could be seen as risky. She tells her to dress up and lie at Boaz’s feet, on the threshing floor, in the middle of the night. While their motives were good, others might not perceive them as such. It could be seen as the move of a prostitute and not a holy woman looking for protection. And Boaz knew that. She was taking a leap of faith by trusting Naomi, Boaz, and ultimately, the God of Israel. Continue reading “Under His Wings” →

Runneth Over

And at mealtime Boaz said to her, “come here, that you may eat of the bread and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” So she sat beside the reaper; and he served her roasted grain, and she ate and was satisfied and had some left. Ruth 2:14

Every book of the Bible is connected with every other book in the Bible. The same is true with the book of Ruth, especially in regard to the Psalms.

I was struck when I was reading in Ruth 2:14 about how Boaz asked Ruth, a poor widowed foreigner, to share in the food from his table. I wonder if David thought about this story about his great-grandmother when he wrote in the Psalms “my cup runneth over.” As the youngest son of many brothers, he would understand what it felt like to be treated as unimportant; the least of many. Continue reading “Runneth Over” →

The Lure of Public Recognition

“All that you have done…has been fully reported to me…” Ruth 2:11a

Occasionally, I will meet someone who wants to serve others with no desire for recognition. This is such a rare trait and one that is supernaturally driven.

When Ruth arrived in Bethlehem, she knew that she had to get out in the field to provide food for herself and her mother-in-law, Naomi. Nothing in the book of Ruth even insinuates that she would want public recognition. Instead, we see quite the contrary. She did nothing to bring attention to herself. Continue reading “The Lure of Public Recognition” →

Handling Authority

Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “May the LORD be with you.” And they said to him, “May the LORD bless you.” Ruth 2:4

Almost every time I turn on the news, I hear a story about how a boss has abused his authority. Those under him cry out for better leadership. But here’s the catch: If we want better leaders, then we need to be better leaders, right where we are. Continue reading “Handling Authority” →

Don’t Rebuke!

When she rose to glean, Boaz commanded his servants, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not insult her. And also you shall purposely pull out for her some grain from the bundles and leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.
Ruth 2:15 and 16

Sometimes we have too high expectations of new Christians. We forget that we were new…once. Continue reading “Don’t Rebuke!” →

The Second Man

Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. Ruth 2:1

Throughout the Bible, we are confronted with two choices, two examples, two paths…. And as we compare the two, which will we choose?

In Ruth chapter one, verse one, we meet a man named Elimelech. In Ruth chapter one verse one, we meet a man from the same family. His name is Boaz. Let’s compare the two. They are both Jews from the same family. Their family originates in Bethlehem. Now, that’s where the comparisons end. In the face of famine. Elimelech turned aside and took his family to Moab, a country that had, historically, been Israel’s enemy. Continue reading “The Second Man” →

No Coincidences

…She happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz… Ruth 2:3

While I’m sure there is such a thing as a coincidence, I think they are fewer than most might think. Our God, the one who works out everything for His purpose, has a way of weaving seemingly unrelated things together. Continue reading “No Coincidences” →

Starting Over

…She happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz… Ruth 2:3

While I’m sure there is such a thing as a coincidence, I think they are fewer than most might think. Our God, the one who works out everything for His purpose, has a way of weaving seemingly unrelated things together. Continue reading “Starting Over” →

Promise of Harvest

And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. Ruth 1:22b

Just as the prodigal son returned to his father during a time of plenty, Naomi and Ruth returned to Israel at the beginning of the barley harvest. Can we embrace the wayward when we have been toiling? Continue reading “Promise of Harvest” →

Call Me “Mara”

“…the Almighty has afflicted me.” Ruth 1:21

I’ve experienced grief to the point where I have had no more tears to cry. However, grief from my own choices had an intensity and tang all its own.

The whole first chapter of the book of Ruth deals with the consequences of bad choices. At the end of the chapter, Naomi and Ruth come home to Bethlehem. Naomi beats her friends to the punch. In verses 20 and 21, she says, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?” Continue reading “Call Me “Mara”” →